Why don't most Americans understand politics?

Question

I don't know if other industrialized countries are as bad as us but we are really bad.

-Two out five Americans don't know we have three branches of government

-More people voted in American Idol than in our last presidential election

-69% percent of people believe offshore drilling will lower gas prices in the next couple years

-Angola has the same voting turnout as us(50%)

Think how many people don't know their own senators or governors. If more of us participated in politics maybe our politicians would actually help us.

Answer 1

Our media is owned by 5 companies (Viacom, Universal, AOL Time Warner, News Corporation, and Disney) that don't want you to know that truth.

Our education system is more concerned with making sure you read Shakespeare than knowing what's going on.  

Answer 2

how many of those people asked about the branches dropped out of school?  "legislative, judicial, and executive"

more of the votes for American Idol I suspect is from the kiddies who aren't old enough to vote...  at least I wasn't old enough in '04

It's going to take more than a couple of years to lower gas prices, people just wish there was a fast fix for things

i agree with you, some people just aren't educated enough, I know more about economics than McCain does

Answer 3

I agree with you.  Americans have had it so much easier than folks in other countries they take voting for granted.  I think voting should be mandatory and if you are apathetic and don't vote, then you should be fined.  

Answer 4

Why do you think there are so many violent revolutions and protest around the world. Even in what we would call civilized countries. It is cause people actually take their government seriously.

Here we are kind of like being in the Matrix. They keep us ignorant, but content. Basically throw some peanuts at the masses and keep lining their pockets with gold and s******g up the world.  

Answer 5

Amei you idiot. How smart do you have to be to realize trying to get people to participate in politics is not hating your country.  

Answer 6

I thought everyone had to take government when they were in school so it is a pretty dumb person who didn't know about the three branches of government I agree if more people spent a little time on the government of our country and know how it runs and got out and voted we would have things run much better.. How fast do people think your going to drill an oil well and build the refineries they need to refine the Oil I think there looking for about ten years not two. And some of us were having a discussion about the off shore drilling look what happened in the hurricanes they have in the area they are drilling now And all the Oil spills they have can you imagine if they drill in places that the weather is really bad what can happen to these drilling rigs. Mccain wants to have more nuclear plants. If we are spending all this money why not go for

the clean air things it can't cost more then drilling or nuclear and would be a lot better for the environment and even our health. And maybe could make jobs that are really needed.

Answer 7

Ok, first off, I hate it when people go dissing my country.  Yes, it has some down sides, but so does every place (like in Canada you may have to wait years for a medical procedure)

Here are some answers:

-People don't have to be 18 to vote for American Idol.  There are a lot of tweens out there who love those boys with boyband potential

-If we're going to spend billions on oil, why not pump it directly ourselves and save some trouble?  Sure, the oil companies will keep the prices as high as possible, but at least it would come to America and not the Middle East

-What does Angola have to do with this?  What's the voting percent in China?  About 5%, right?  You know, where the president chooses who will elect him in the next five years.  America's doing much better than that.

So, don't just assume that everything you hear on MSNBC (more like PMS-NBC) is true, or that America is a slimy, ignorant country.  I suggest C-span.  It takes a long time, but it shows both sides of politics, unlike the aforementioned station and Fox.

Try not to be blinded by this America-hating fad, it doesn't do anyone any good.

Answer 8

Poor educations.  Goes to the heart of our school systems failing.  Instead of teaching branches of the government our schools are passing out condoms and saying it's OK if you touch your bodies, it's normal, it's OK to experiment with mind altering drugs, your parents drink Alcohol.  It's OK to tattoo your body and get piercings in your eyes, lips, tongue, v****a, p***s, elbow, b*****s, nose, toes, and eyebrows, it is just a form of expression.  Learn about the Supreme Court, The Congress, and The duties of the President, why waste our time we are doing good social work here.  Now pass the prozac, valium, lithium and codeine, I have a headache.

Answer 9

Too many people vote without knowing what or who they are voting for.

We need to have a $5000 annual poll tax and require people to pass a difficult test on each candidate's position before they can vote.

The voters would be like the 'electors' who made the decisions years ago.

However and absolute monarchy might be a simpler solution.  I am available for the job.

Answer 10

More people voted in American idol BECAUSE YOU CAN VOTE MORE THAN ONCE..... well what do ya know?

Answer 11

Politically correct teachers & classrooms loaded  with dumbdown "America is the villian" textbooks, and a media that looks down on real education and promotes celebrity & shallow achievement.

Answer 12

We do,but we don't like what we see.We have no control its all a myth.If you are lucky enough to get your choice finally the congress,the Senate either stops or blocks everything that doesn't benefit wall street.Short of a revolution how do you fight that?We are tired of the lies,the scandals,the backroom dealing,the sell outs you know POLITICS.

Answer 13

Most Americans choose to be ignorant because they claim career politicians and voting system are too corrupt.  Career politicians use American ignorance to get away with corruption.  It's a vicious downward spiral.

Answer 14

many americans have the herd mentality... and vote similarly. the problem is that when they get some power and need to be responsible, they don't have the ability to back it up.

and the "talk" of drilling has reduced gas prices already, you liberal tards. get your head out of your arses.

vote McCain Palin, keep the Republic, don't let America become Rome.

Answer 15

most of it is due to a poor education system that was intentionally designed to produce good workers, not good leaders.

the rest is just because college football and NASCAR are so much more exciting. (oooh look, another left turn!!!)

Answer 16

.

no one really cares

Answer 17

If they put pink sparkles on voting booths for women and had HDTV screen with explosions on them for guys, our voting turnout would go up tenfold, I'm sure.

When it comes to American politics, people care more about scandal, hyperbole and confict than they do about the actual platforms the candidates are actually running on.

Answer 18

Palin attacking Obama was bait.  He was supposed to attack back so Republicans can write the narrative "black man attacks white woman".  Things like this really turn people off.  It's kind of depressing so people just tune out.